Game device



y 1968 M. M. BOOTHE 3,384,374

GAME DEVICE Filed April 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

MflLC'OL/W M BOOT/A5:

ATTOENE Y.

M. M. BOOTHE May 21, 1968 GAME DEVI CE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1965 INVENTOR. M4AC0LM M 500 7W5,

A TTOZNEK United States Patent 3,384,374 GAME DEVICE Malcolm M. Boothe, Rte. 2, Elba, Ala. 36323 Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,424 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-110) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An amusement device having a casing and a plate mounted thereon for tilting about two axes, the tilting of the plate being controlled by a single lever.

This invention relates to a game device for amusement and the development of manipulative skills. Moreover, the device relates to a game surface titltable about one or more axes to guide a gravity controlled game projectile along the surface.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a game device including a surface as aforesaid, wherein the surface is controlled by remote actuation means. A related objective is to supply a horizontal planar surface and a control for selective tilting of the surface about two perpendicularly related diametric axes, either simultaneously or singly.

In the employment of this apparatus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is an objective to provide a game of skill and amusement which involves the guidance of a gravity controlled element, such as a ball, along a predetermined path on a planar surface. The surface contains obstacles and openings arranged in maze-like form, and a pathway, and successful completion of the game involves guidance of the ball along the pathway, without permitting it to drop through the openings.

Another object is to provide dual pivot means for a planar surface with respect to a housing, including the pivoting of a surface bearing means to a rim within the housing, and pivoting of the rim to the housing on an axis perpendicular to the axis of pivoting of the rim. A related advantage hereof resides in the provision of a single control means, by the manipulation of which the inclination of the surface is regulated by the user.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, medial cross-sectional view of the apparatus hereof, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG- UR E 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE '5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, detail sectional view taken on the section line 66 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, a preferred form of the device is shown in the drawings, and designated therein by reference numeral 10. The device :10 has diverse utility, but is illustrated and described herein, without limitation, as applied to a game of amusement and skill.

The device 10 comprises a housing 12 including a tubular, upstanding side wall 14. The side wall 14 has ice inner and outer sides 16, 18, and top and bottom portions 20 and 22. The housing 12 further includes a base 24 :with a surrounding flange 226 connected to the inner side 16 of the side wall adjacent the bottom portion 22. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the base is mounted in a slanted position toward an opening 28 formed in the side wall, whereby an object falling on the base gravitates toward the opening.

A first bracket 30, having an opening 32 therein is mounted on the inner side 16 of the side wall, and the wall has an aperture 3'4 formed therein at a diametrically opposed location. An elongated, tubular shaft '36, having an inner end 3 8 extending into the opening 32 of the bracket and an outer end 40 extending through the aperture 34 is provided and is journaled rotatably therein. As shown in FIGURE 2, the shaft has an elongated slot 42 therein intermediate its ends for a purpose described below. The end 40 of the shaft extends outwardly of the side Wall and has an upwardly curved extension element 4'4 thereon terminating at its outer end in upstanding ears 46. The extension 44 is open at one side, at 48, as shown in FIGURES 2 and '3. A transverse cross plate 50 is secured to the shaft intermediate its ends, and has upstanding end sections 52, 54 disposed on opposite sides of the shaft.

A pair of second brackets 56 and '58 are secured to the inner side '16 of the housing at diametrically opposite sides thereof, on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 36. The second brackets have coaxial openings 60, 62, respectively, formed therein, and a rod '64 is mounted therein. :The rod, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, is mounted in a location spaced upwardly in the housing with respect to the shaft 36.

An annular rim 66 of a diameter less than that of the housing is mounted for pivotal movement on rivets 68 and 70 extended between the rim and the upper portion 20 of the side wall. Thus, the rim is tiltable about a diametric axis parallel to the shaft =36.

The planar surface hereof, in this embodiment of the invention, comprises a substantially flat, discoidal plate 72 with an upper surface 74 and an upper surrounding rim 76. The surface 74 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart, variant obstacles 78 arranged in a mazelike pattern, and openings 80 formed therein in a scattered pattern. If desired, a pathway 82 leading about the surface from a starting location 84 (FIGURE 4) may be supplied. A ball element 86, formed of metal or the like, is provided for use in the operation of the device. The maze plate 72 has depending lugs 88, thereon, and rivets 92, 94, respectively, pivotally connect the plate within the rim 66. The rivets 92 and 94 provide a diametric pivot axis for the plate which is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the rim, whereby the plate 72 and rim 76 are pivoted together about two perpendicularly related cross axes with respect to the housing.

Referring to FIGURE 5, as shown therein, pairs of elongated, substantially rectangular links 96 and 98 are pivotally mounted on the ends 52 and 54, respectively, of the cross plate 50. The links are pivotally connected, at their upper ends, to depending ears 100 and 102 of the plate 72. It will be noted that the ears 100, 102 are located on opposite sides of the axis of mounting of the rim 66 between rivets 68 and 70.

A bell crank 104 having an outer arm 106, a bend portion 108 with an opening 110 therein and a lower arm 112, is carried on the rod 64 which extends through the opening 110 of the bend portion. The lower arm 112 extends into the slot 42 of the shaft 36, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 5. An elongated, substantially rectangular forward link 114 is pivoted at its ends to the arm 106 and to an ear 116 depending from the plate 72.

An elongated control rod 118 having an inner end 120 and an outer end 122 is positioned within the shaft 36. End 120 is pivotally connected to the lower arm 112 of the bell crank, and the outer end 122 extends outwardly of the shaft end 40. A handle member 124, with a grip means 126 at its upper end and a clevis 128 at its lower end is provided, and is connected between the ears by a pin 130 extending therethrough intermediate said ends. The clevis has a pin 132 extending through the rod end 122.

In operation, as indicated by the description of structure supra, the tilting of the surface 74 is controlled by manipulation of the handle member 124. Lateral pressure on the handle results in a like inclination of the surface, while forward or rearward handle action provides a corresponding movement of the surface. The lateral and/or forward or rearward movements may be accomplished substantially together or separately. In the game device shown, one manner of usage involves an initial placement of the projectile 86 on the starting area 84, followed by an attempt to guide the projectile along the pathway 82 by manipulation of the handle 124. If the projectile should fall into one of the openings 80, it falls on the base 24 and gravitates through the opening 28, whereupon the game is started again.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that this description and illustration is offered only by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising:

a housing including a tubular, vertically disposed side wall;

a first bracket mounted on the side wall, the side wall having an aperture formed therein in diametrically opposed location with respect to the bracket;

an elongated, tubular shaft secured rotatably in the bracket and extending outwardly of the aperture, the shaft having a slot therein,

an extension element on the outer end of the shaft;

a transverse cross plate fixedly secured to the shaft and having upstanding end portions, the cross plate being tiltable with the shaft upon rotation thereof;

a rod mounted in the housing in transverse relation to the shaft;

an annular mounting rim pivotally mounted within the housing side wall, on an axis parallel to the shaft;

a maze plate, having a plurality of obstructions, a plurality of apertures formed therein, and an indicated pathway between the obstructions and the apertures, pivotally mounted within the rim on a diametric axis parallel to said axis of said rod;

links pivotally connected to the cross plate end portions at spaced locations on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the rim;

a bell crank having an outer arm and a lower arm and extending through the slot of the shaft, mounted on the rod intermediate the arms;

a forward link pivoted to the crank outer arm and to the maze plate at a location spaced from the pivot axis of the maze plate;

a control rod connected to the bell crank lower arm and extending through the shaft to the outer end thereof; and

a handle pivoted to the shaft outer end and pivoted to the control rod.

2. An amusement device comprising:

a housing including a tubular, vertically disposed side wall and a base;

the side wall having inner and outer sides, a top portion, a bottom portion, and having an aperture therein;

a first bracket mounted on the inner side of the side wall diametrically opposite the aperture;

an elongated, tubular shaft, having inner and outer ends, secured rotatably to the first bracket at the inner end, and the outer end extending outwardly of the aperture;

an upwardly curved extension element on the outer end of the shaft, the extension having an open side and a pair of upstanding ears;

the shaft having a slot formed therein;

a transverse cross plate fixedly secured to the shaft, having upstanding outer end portions, the cross plate being tiltable with the shaft upon rotation thereof;

a pair of second brackets secured to the side wall inner side on a diametric axis perpendicular with respect to the shaft;

a rod mounted in the second brackets;

an annular mounting n'm pivotally mounted within the top portion of the side wall, on an axis parallel to the shaft;

a maze plate, having a plurality of obstructions, a plurality of apertures therein, and a pathway between the obstructions and apertures, pivotally mounted within the rim on a diametric axis parallel to said rod;

links pivotally connected to the cross plate outer end portions at spaced locations on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the rim;

a bell crank having an outer arm and a lower arm, the lower arm extending through the slot of the shaft, the crank being mounted on the rod intermediate the arms;

a forward link pivoted to the crank outer arm and to the maze plate at a location spaced from the pivot axis of the maze plate;

a control rod connected to the bell crank lower arm and extending through the shaft to the outer end thereof; and

a handle pivoted between the ears of the extension and pivoted to the control rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1941 Ferreri 273l10 12/1944 Harris 273 

